Events
Events
28 October 2024EventsThe African Union Department of Agriculture Rural Development Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and Partners, have the honor to invite you to the 20th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform and Commemoration of the 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) to be held in a hybrid format from 29 October- 01 November 2024, in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Proposed Theme: Two Decades of CAADP Agenda: Cultivating the Nexus of Nutrition, Agrifood Systems and Education for Africa’s Growth.
Kindly find attached the concept note, and information note on the Event. The detailed agenda will be shared in due course.
You are invited to register through the link below;
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpcOmqpjkrGNLyOHG-Iadoe6eX-qbhRr-R
For more information on the event, please contact Ms. Panduleni Elago (ElagoPj@africa-union.org) or Mr. Clement Adjorlolo (clementa@nepad.org) and copy Ms. Mahlet Sileshi
(sileshim@africa-union.org). [...]
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8 October 2024Events / PublicationsThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) will, from October 11 through 16, 2024, hold a workshop on “Enhancing the capacity of National Plant Protection Organizations and other stakeholders on pest modelling for early warning, preparedness, and decision-making, at SAWA Hotel in Douala-Cameroon.
The workshop, to take place at Hotel SAWA, is meant to strengthen participating National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) and other stakeholders’ capacity to develop risk maps, enabling them to make well-informed decisions regarding pest management.
Insect pests have been causing significant agricultural losses in many African countries, posing a serious threat to food security for millions of people. Fall armyworm, Tuta absoluta, Asian fruit fly, and African Armyworm are some of the most destructive pests, wreaking havoc on crops and livelihoods.
Despite efforts to promote various management strategies, there is a critical lack of effective prediction and control of these pests. Most African countries are notably underfunded in monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems. As a result, interventions are sporadic and often ineffective, and policy-making suffers from a lack of substantial evidence. This leads to high pest incidence, forcing governments to resort to costly chemical controls that also harm the environment. Reports consistently show that preventive measures are more economically advantageous than reactive approaches.
The root cause of inadequate investment in essential pest management infrastructure lies in a lack of technical expertise and limited access to up-to-date tools and reliable data. To address these challenges, a hands-on training workshop for stakeholders from Regional Economic Communities (RECs) would be highly beneficial. This training will empower participants to choose appropriate management strategies for specific pests at the right times and locations, thereby reducing the extensive damage caused by these pests and improving food security.
The hands-on training workshop has been meticulously crafted to achieve the following specific objectives:
Data management: The workshop will introduce participants to essential data and demonstrate various data processing tools that support effective pest management strategies.
Introduction to GIS and modelling concepts: Participants will gain familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and basic modelling techniques, which are crucial for pest risk assessment.
Understanding agroecological characterization and ecological similarity: The workshop will provide participants with foundational theories in agroecology to enhance their understanding of pest dynamics in relation to their environments and the spread patterns of pests.
Generation of pest risk maps: Each country will receive assistance in creating specific risk maps for various insect pests tailored to their local contexts.
Data interpretation skills: The workshop aims to enhance participants’ skills in interpreting data, which is critical for an evidence-based decision-making process.
Development of informational products: Participants will be trained in the creation of newsletters and other materials that effectively communicate pest risk and management information to a broad audience.
Establishment of a data sharing framework: The workshop will facilitate the establishment of a system for sharing data among participating countries, fostering collaboration and enhancing regional pest management strategies.
The event will be chaired by both FAO and AU-IAPSC Officials, with attendance from twenty African countries, including:, Benin, Burundi, Botwsana, Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Comoros, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, and Zambia; and institutions like the University of Pretoria, Chuka University (Nairobi), CABI- Nairobi, RCMRD- Nairobi, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), KEPHIS- Kenya, and TolBi-Senegal. [...]
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6 September 2024EventsThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) will, from September 23 through 27, 2024, hold a workshop on “Enhancing the capacity of National Plant Protection Organizations and other stakeholders on pest modelling for early warning, preparedness, and decision-making, in Douala-Cameroon.
The workshop, to take place at Hotel SAWA, is meant to strengthen participating National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) and other stakeholders’ capacity to develop risk maps, enabling them to make well-informed decisions regarding pest management.
Insect pests have been causing significant agricultural losses in many African countries, posing a serious threat to food security for millions of people. Fall armyworm, Tuta absoluta, Asian fruit fly, and African Armyworm are some of the most destructive pests, wreaking havoc on crops and livelihoods.
Despite efforts to promote various management strategies, there is a critical lack of effective prediction and control of these pests. Most African countries are notably underfunded in monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems. As a result, interventions are sporadic and often ineffective, and policy-making suffers from a lack of substantial evidence. This leads to high pest incidence, forcing governments to resort to costly chemical controls that also harm the environment. Reports consistently show that preventive measures are more economically advantageous than reactive approaches.
The root cause of inadequate investment in essential pest management infrastructure lies in a lack of technical expertise and limited access to up-to-date tools and reliable data. To address these challenges, a hands-on training workshop for stakeholders from Regional Economic Communities (RECs) would be highly beneficial. This training will empower participants to choose appropriate management strategies for specific pests at the right times and locations, thereby reducing the extensive damage caused by these pests and improving food security.
The hands-on training workshop has been meticulously crafted to achieve the following specific objectives:
Data management: The workshop will introduce participants to essential data and demonstrate various data processing tools that support effective pest management strategies.
Introduction to GIS and modelling concepts: Participants will gain familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and basic modelling techniques, which are crucial for pest risk assessment.
Understanding agroecological characterization and ecological similarity: The workshop will provide participants with foundational theories in agroecology to enhance their understanding of pest dynamics in relation to their environments and the spread patterns of pests.
Generation of pest risk maps: Each country will receive assistance in creating specific risk maps for various insect pests tailored to their local contexts.
Data interpretation skills: The workshop aims to enhance participants’ skills in interpreting data, which is critical for an evidence-based decision-making process.
Development of informational products: Participants will be trained in the creation of newsletters and other materials that effectively communicate pest risk and management information to a broad audience.
Establishment of a data sharing framework: The workshop will facilitate the establishment of a system for sharing data among participating countries, fostering collaboration and enhancing regional pest management strategies.
The event will be chaired by both FAO and AU-IAPSC Officials, with attendance from twenty African countries, including:, Benin, Burundi, Botwsana, Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Comoros, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, and Zambia; and institutions like the University of Pretoria, Chuka University (Nairobi), CABI- Nairobi, RCMRD- Nairobi, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), KEPHIS- Kenya, and TolBi-Senegal. [...]
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29 July 2024EventsLa SPA 2022-2036 du CPI-UA sera lancée le 30 juillet à Addis-Abeba, en Éthiopie, au siège de l’UA, dans la *Small Conference Hall 3 [...]
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29 July 2024EventsAU-IAPSC’s 2022-2036 PHSA will be launched on July 30th in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, AU Headquarters, Small Conference Hall 3. [...]
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24 May 2024EventsThe International Day of Plant Health 2024, organized by the Interafrican Phytosanitary Council of African Union (AU-IAPSC) concluded on a satisfactory note and further commitment of all stakeholders in the Plant Heath Community to support sustainable agriculture for safe trade and nutrition security.
Across all regional plant protection organizations, the International Day of Plant Health 2024 was celebrated under the theme of “Plant health, safe trade and digital technology.” The focus was on raising awareness and taking action to promote healthy plants, ensure food safety, and facilitate safe trade for sustainable economies and livelihoods. Various activities and events were organized to highlight the importance of plant health and the role of digital technology in safeguarding plants. Overall, the celebrations aimed to emphasize the critical need for improved communication, collaboration and action to protect plant health and support sustainable agriculture.
The event took place on May 15th, instead of the dedicated May 12th, owing to conflicting agendas at AU-IAPSC, around a Webinar organized on the occasion with distinguished speakers across the continent who made outstanding presentations. The presentations and related agenda are shown below:
Topic 1: Intelligent Systems in Pest Management: The Intersection of AI and Biological Control for Plant Health and Trade Safety, by Mr.Komi Agboka (icipe)
Topic 2: The role of digital technology in enhancing timely plant health management, by Mrs. Raymonda Johnson (NPPO, Sierra Leone)
Topic 3: The role of communication in Plant health management, by Claude Tenkeu (AU-IAPSC)
Topic 4: Advancing Plant health in Africa: Harnessing Digital Technology for safe trade, by Fernadis Makale (CABI)
Topic 5: The AfCFTA catalysing trade in plants and plants products, by Diana Akullo (AU-AfCFTA)
Topic 6: Agroecology : Future of Sustainable Plant Health and Nutrition, by Derrick Ngigi HSC (PurePlant Organics)
Topic 7: ephyto application for enhanced food security, agricultural productivity, plant health and trade facilitation, by Josiah Syanda (KEPHIS)
More that 150 participants took part in the online event with resounding contributions that brought forth seminal scientific ideas to rekindle plant health endeavours across the continent.
As the event came to a close around 5:30 pm, participants’ enthusiasm could still be felt with even more willingness to further discussions.speakers [...]
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4 December 2023Events / Non classéPlant Health Strategy for Africa implementation under review
AU-IAPSC has this week brought together African member states and key players & partners in the plant health sector to jointly review, revise and validate the draft implementation plan for the Plant Health Strategy for Africa.
The Plant Health Strategy was developed to achieve a vibrant, robust and practical plant health system for Africa to improve food safety, food and nutrition security, improved livelihoods and trade.
The meeting taking place in Lusaka- Zambia has drawn together member states from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, Burundi, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Madagascar, Bukina Faso, Chad, Cameroon and the host Zambia.
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other development partners include East African Community (EAC), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and CropLifeAfrica.
Opening the meeting, AU-IAPSC Coordinator Dr Saliou Niassy stressed that the meeting was key in ensuring the effective implementation of the strategy, which seeks to enhance productivity and trade and strengthen regional collaboration for smoother agricultural trade between African nations.
“In that line, the objectives of the strategy directly speaks to the needs of the Agricultural sector which is vital, supporting livelihoods and ensuring food availability; it’s a major employer in Africa, providing jobs for about 60-70% of the population and a crucial source of livelihood for many, especially in rural areas,” he said.
Concurring with Niassy, Director of the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Zambia Dr Kenn Msiska asserted that the strategy was a critical component in providing sustainable solutions to the continent, hence the meeting offers a great opportunity to unpack what can jointly work for all member states and various stakeholders.
“This world is faced with the enormous challenge of pest introduction and spread and it is just right that Africa as a continent, has something to guide its concerted efforts of controlling and managing pests of
economic importance” he said.
At the meeting, presentations, discussions, deliberations and group work are unpacking some key approaches that remain key including coordination mechanisms to ensure that the strategy is implemented efficiently and effectively in all member states. [...]
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24 November 2023EventsInter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC), has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that African member states and regional economic communities (RECs) are thoroughly supported in their various efforts towards protection and promotion of plant health on the content.
The commitment was made by AU-IAPSC Coordinator Dr Saliou Niassy in Douala – Cameroon where the Specialized Technical Office is building the capacity of member states in Pest Surveillance, Inspection and Diagnostics.
This follows two other trainings held in the past two weeks in Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), Establishment of Pest-Free Places of Production and Pest-Free Production Sites for Prioritized Quarantine Pests/Prioritized Commodities.
“You can appreciate that all these trainings are part of our desire to see a region that is strengthened not only in systems and processes but also in knowledge and skills that bring out solution-based approaches to counter all challenges in the plant health field,” he said.
He stressed that doubling as the Specialized Technical Office for the AU and also the Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) for Africa for the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), AU-IAPSC takes its role seriously in its quest to champion the coordination of activities across the continent.
“Beyond the coordination mandate, AU-IAPSC is eager to see that our efforts go beyond these trainings and other forms of capacity building. We want to engage more, reach out further, reinforce partnerships and fortify what we have already built over the years with all of you as we also initiate fresh avenues beneficial to our common interests as a continent,” he said.
At the height of consultations towards the implementation of the Plant Health Strategy for Africa (PHSA), AU-IAPSC also hopes that the member states and RECs will own the strategy and use it to the advantage of plant health affairs in all regions.
Through specialized coaching, presentations, group work, field visits, the trainings have provided an opportunity for member states to share knowledge, skills, best practices and practical solutions implemented in their respective countries. [...]
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16 November 2023Events / Non classéAfrican member states drilled in Pest Risk Analysis for trade facilitation
Over 20 plant health scientists and experts from African member states have convened in Cameroon’s economic capital Douala, for a specialized training workshop on the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for trade facilitation across the continent.
The training has been organized by Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC) as part of its mandate to coordinate and implement decisions relating to phytosanitary activities across the continent.
PRA is a conventional scientific tool that provides countries with the ability to protect their plant resources from pests and fulfil their international obligations by supporting various types of national programmes.
It also therefore provides countries with justification for trade bans and other non-tariff measures.
AU-IAPSC Coordinator Dr Saliou Niassy in his opening remarks said the 4-day training will build the capacity of the participating member states through National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) on the steps of the PRA process, the necessary resources and the importance of having usable national data.
He said PRA resonated well with the objectives of the Plant Health Strategy for Africa (PHSA) whose successful implementation will also depend on, among many factors, capacity building for research, pest monitoring management strategies.
“We are also looking at imparting member states with knowledge and information on how to gather and update feedback on the latest information on PRA and to create strong networking among them,” he said.
Beyond capacity, the training would provide member states with the necessary knowledge to enable them adhere to phytosanitary conditions outlined by World Trade Organisation (WTO) and International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to facilitate international markets while sustaining food security.
Minister of Agriculture for the Republic of Cameroon Mr Gabriel Mbairobe officially opened the training, stressing that the PRA training is essential not only for effective pest control for farms and agricultural premises, but also for economic purposes.
“Pest species are cause for major concern, not only due to the potential loss of revenue due to crop damage but, if left untreated, they can also cause significant damage to machinery, equipment and property as well,” he said.
He worried over current statistics that indicate plant pests and pathogens damage the agriculture severely, endangering food security and causing production losses of 20%–40%, which represent around US$ 40 billion per year worldwide.
The training will also provide an opportunity for NPPOs to share best practices and implementation strategies around pests and diseases.
Member states available for the training include DRC, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Guinee Conakry, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and the host Cameroon.
Practical training sessions on PRA tools and Horizon Scanning Tool by experts from Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) are also part of the training. [...]
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13 November 2023EventsA harmonized approach in pest control among various stakeholders is pivotal in sustainable pesticide management in order to achieve food security across the African continent.
This was emphasized at a just-ended two-day workshop in Grand Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire where over 30 experts from West and Central Africa subregion convened to engage and discuss diverse topics around risk assessment, mitigation and implementation of a globally harmonized system in pest control.
The gathering took time to share experiences and lessons and share best practices that are adaptable to the sub-region, to contribute to a sustainable pesticides management for both food security and safety attainment.
High on the agenda was also the use of drones in pesticides application use, an advanced method among many technological advances and applications in the agricultural sector.
” offer more benefits and opportunities such as more precise and effective with GPS-guided applications, access to difficult areas, reduce operator exposure, likely reduce drift, potentially easier implementation of mode of action, potential lower cost…” says an extract from CropLife International on the assessment for drone use in pesticide application.
Among the recommendations from the meeting was the need to identify experts for continuous for regulatory support on exposure assessment and provision of support for regional policy to ensure that Personal Protective Equipment is both availability and affordable.
The gathering also offered an opportunity for practical discussions on how the subregion can enhance the capacity of regulatory authorities on regulatory issues, among many key needs of the continent.
The participants comprised of national and regional regulatory and/or registration officers, representatives of regional organizations including Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC). [...]
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